chapter 17

      Aru had parted ways with her trio and now was on her way back. Her thoughts occupying all her focus as she let the everyday habit of walking back guide her home. She couldn't get over whatever happened throughout. Only if the college would stop cancelling lectures every now and then and she could just stop being irregular. Why not just send us on vacation already? What's the point in coming for one or two lectures? And thanks to this Vibha, am bunking even those! Ughh. Aru stopped as she took a deep breath while she looked at way ahead.     She hadn't been paying much attention around but still had a hunch that someone had been following her all the way. She looked behind from the corner of her eyes , a group of boys , they didn't give out that good of a vibe and too much of overacting as if they won't be considered suspicious admiring the  half torn pest control posters. She walked faster as she heard approaching footsteps. What the hell? She tried to get a glance from the corner of her eyes and realised one of them was nearing her from the left side and so without giving it further thought she turned into the right lane.      Both her feet and heart had picked a rapid pace as she tightly clutched onto her bag straps. The sound of footsteps had reduced but not completely stopped. Don't panick ! Don't Panick! You can get out of this! You can do it! She was taking all the lanes she could to avoid them , not actually realising she was being lead into those choices. Finally at a point she felt the lightest of the sound fade and realised there was no one behind her. She looked around and realised she wasn't being followed any longer but she was sure lost.     Where the heck is this!? She examined the surroundings and realised the area looked abondoned. The buildings had notices saying they were under renovation. But there didn't seem any workers around, no shops , no humans, no-" EKKKK!!" , Aru ran side ways screaming as a rat suddenly jumped from behind a tile and dashed past her foot. " What place is this?" , she murmured,  looking around desperately for any help. She was too tensed to remember she had a phone.      She felt her eyes going blur with the tears accumulating in them. The place had bare minimum light to make the surroundings visible enough to notice they were abondoned and creepy. She stepped back a bit until she hit a hard surface. She turned around scared only to realise it was just a wall. She sighed in relief but that didn't reduce the pace of her heart.  " Hello there baby!" , a voice annoyingly trying to sound sweet called out and she glanced in the direction. She realised the boy to be the same from the gang she had seen out.       He stepped closer and Aru too scared to move only backed off. There was still considerable distance between them and enough for her to run away but she felt her legs go numb to even move a bit. He approached very slowly and finally mustering her courage Aru turned around and ran into the lane right besides. Not actually seeing where she was going she crashed into the person standing there taking them down with herself.     " Ouchh! ", the girl whined and Aru looked up to see who it was. " Aishh. Why did it backfire like this?", the girl mumbled and Aru looked at her too scared to be confused. " You okay?",one more girl popped out of nowhere and offered Aru hand as she helped her up while letting the other girl whining on the ground. " You deserved that. ", she taunted as she checked on Aru. " Thank you so much.", Aru said , finally relived to have seen a human and that too a female who looked nowhere creep. " Were you too being chased?" , she asked and Aru nodded. " I see. Let's just get out of here.", she added and kicked the girl on the ground lightly to follow up. The girl seemed to have cursed but followed nevertheless.     The three walked out of the place as the taller girl lead them "Myself Riya. And this Dumbo is Kritika .", she introduced and Aru smiled , " Arushi." she mumbled. She wasn't in condition to speak a whole sentence. It was like all her voice was swallowed due to fear. They walked in silence while Riya kept sending death glares at Kritika who looked down nervously.     " Why did you guys call me here? What the hell -"